Wall structure



Aug. 6 1.935. l R v PARSQNS 2,010,412

WALL STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 29, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Rqymond YFanfani.

E" fwd/@MM ATTORN EY Aug. 6, 1935. R. v. PARSONS 2,010,412

WALL STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 29, 1932 5 S1'1eecs-Sheerl 2 lll.

INVENTOR Ray/11 0nd Palma/2.5'.

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ATTORNEY R. V. PARSONS WALL STRUCTURE Aug. 6, 1935.

Filed Jan. 29. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Km. ,w f Dm, @QM m0 m MWA mmv Y BPatented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES WALL STRUCTURE Raymond V. Parsons,New York, N. Y., assigner to Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application January 29, 1932, Serial No.589,723

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a wall structure, and particularly to onecomprising discrete units of facing or finishing material. A preferredembodiment of the invention is a building partition comprising asupporting substructure and units of stone-like material attached to thesupporting substructure by concealed securing means.

The objections to plastered Walls, and particularly to plasteredpartitions in oilice buildings, are widely recognized. Thus, the ownerof an office building frequently nds it expensive and inconvenient tomove plaster partitions, to suit the changing needs of the occupants ofthe building, or to obtain access to electrical conduits, telephonecables, or the like in the interior of such a partition.

Unitized structures have been proposed as substitutes for plaster wallsor partitions. To these, also, there are disadvantages. Many of theunitized structures are flimsy, contain light-weight panels or facingunits that are easily set in vibration by sound waves, and have cracksbetween the various units, through which air may circulate. When thecracks are closed by a cementitious material, such as plaster appliedover the units, the wall may vibrate as a whole and thereby give verypoor sound insulating properties to the structure. In many cases, thefasteners whichl secure the units of facing material to the substructureare visible, as, for example, nails or screws driven through the unitsand into rearwardly disposed studding. In some cases, the fastenersproper are placed. behind the units of facing material but-are madeaccessible by means of perforations or other visible markings of theunit. In still other cases, the fasteners, or the means by which accessto them is secured, are covered by a coating of plaster which protectsthem from view. Such use of plaster does not obviate the inconvenienceor the undesired acoustical effect thereof, both of which a preferredwall structure should avoid. A further expedient 'which has been used,to avoid visible securing r means, is the application of a glue to theback of a facing unit and then adhesively securing the unit to asupporting substructure.

An object of the present invention, in one embodiment thereof, is toprovide a new type of Wall or partition for buildings, comprisingstandardized preformed studs and facing units which may be assembled orerected in a building, with a minimum amount of labor and inconveniencejoints or conceal fastening members, and which,

may be completely dismantled and then reassembled or erected withoutappreciable loss of constituent parts. A further object is to providesuch a wall of satisfactory sound insulating qualities. Another objectis to provide a multiple unit 5 Wall comprising assembled units offacing material with an expansion joint between adjoining units, saidexpansion joint being adapted to close the crack between the unitswithout uniting the various units into a structure adapted to vibrate asa whole. Another Objectis to provide a filling for such a wall that willdamp sound vibrations and, suitably, provide also effective thermalinsulation. A further object is to construct such a wall oi' relativelylarge facing units and to secure them to a supporting substructure bysecuring means that are completely concealed from view and are adaptedto hold the units not only at corners, but also at intermediate points,firmly against the supporting substructure. Another object is to providean interior finish for buildings, in standardized unit form, which maybe painted or decorated before installation in the building wall, thatis, prenished, so that no painting or decoration need be applied afterthe wall has been erected. Other objects and advantages will appear fromthe detailed description that follows.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows avertical cross section of a wall assembly that represents a preferredembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 represents a front view of a wall assembly similar to that shownin section in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 shows in some detail a perspective view of that portion of anassembly at the top of a partition constructed in accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a U-shaped clip adapted to be slippedover an edge of the frieze strip of facing material and an edge of theflange face of a studding.

Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section of a portion of .one face of a walland a part of the supporting substructure, illustrating a structure inwhich the sealing member between two adjacent facing units is of wood.

Figs. 6-9 are similar views showing different modifications of thesealing member.

Fig. l0 is a 'diagrammatic front view showing a modified -form ofarrangement of rectangular units of facing material in a wall assembly.and without the need of plastering` to close the Athe stem of saidfastening element, with the clamping strip in release position withrespect to an adjacent I-stud.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the method of attachment of aunit of facing material to the edge of the flange face of a metal I-stud, by the means illustrated in Fig. 12 but with the clamping strip inengagement with the edge of a flange face f the studding.

Fig. 14 shows a modification of the slot in the clamping strip.

Fig. 15 shows a horizontal cross section of a hollow partition structurein which the space between the facing units, on the two sides of thesupporting substructure, is filled with a material adapted to dampvibrations of the wall.

Fig. 16 shows a horizontal sectional view of a similar partitionstructure in which the I-studs of Fig. 15 are replaced by T-studs facedalternately in opposite directions and so arranged that any givenstudding is in contact with only one face of the wall, whereby thetransmission of vibrations through the wall by means of the studding isminimized. The studding supporting one face of the wall, in thisstructure, is independent of that supporting the other face.

In the various figures, like reference characters denote like parts.

There is illustrated a wall assembly comprising a floor plate or channelsill I, a channel ceiling head plate 2, upright metal studding in theform of I-beams with web member 3, flange faces 4, and crimped or turnedover edges 5. The studding, or I-beam, is attached at the lower end tothe floor plate, in conventional manner, as by means of screws or bolts6 inserted through countersunk holes in the flange face of the studdingand holes registering therewith in the upwardly extending flanges 'I ofthe channel Sill. At the upper end, the I-stud is attached, as by meansof bolts 9, to the downwardly extending flanges 8 of theA head plate.The web member of the upright I-studs may be cut away at'the lower endsto leave a space 46 suitable for receiving electrical or other conduits.Over this supporting substructure there are maintained facing units(units of finishing material) I0, by securing means which are concealedin the ni'shed wall. These securing means include, for example, theclamping member orstrip I3 and a bolt or screw Il provided with a headand a stem. The stem may be threaded and screwed tightly into apreformed hole in the back of the unit of facing material. Also, thestem may have a shoulder II-b which, in the finished assembly, rests onone side against the back of ya unit of facing material, and, on theother side, against the clamping strip I3. These fastening elements areengaged in the assembly by means of a plurality of slots I4 in thestituting one end of said slot, which is nearer t9 the edge of theclamping strip than the other end of the slot, whereby the clampingstrip or member may be caused to slide over or recede from an edge ofthe flange face of the studding by changing the position of thefastening element in the slot, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. Theedge I'I of the clamping strip may be turned up slightly to permit itthe more readily to slide over or engage the edge 5 of the flange faceof the studding. Also, the other edge of the clamping strip may beturned back to give a strip of cross section roughly that of a channel,for the purpose of making the clamping strip more resilient andresistant to transverse bending.

The facing units may have beveled edges I2.

The joint between adjacent facing units may be closed, in such manner asto provide reduced passages for circulation of air, by an independentsealing or separator member I8 which, in a preferred embodiment of theinvention, is one-piece and has a portion back of the facing units andalso a' portion in front of the facing units that are each wider thanthe space between the facing units, and has a web member extendingthrough the space between the facing units. Thus, the sealing member mayconsist of a T-shaped piece of metal with the flangesv I9 of the Tplaced behind and fitting snugly against two adjacent facing units, aweb member 2|, and a small bead 20 at the exposed edge of the T in frontof the said units, whereby accidental slippage of the T- shaped memberout of position is prevented and the sealing member tends to maintainadjacent units of facing material in alignment and reenforces horizontaljoints between the panels. The separator member is disposed between theedges of adjacent panels and is independent of the panels, that is, notsecured directly thereto.

While the wall structure is designed to rest upon a floor, the levelingbars or members 22 may be inserted under the edges of the facing unitsfor purposes of leveling on an uneven support or for convenience in theinstallation of the base boards 23, which may be metal base boards orothers of conventional pattern and mode of attachment.

At the upper edge of one side at least of the wall or partition there isinserted a finishing strip ltion. Thus,4 the frieze strip 24 may bemaintained in position at its lower edge by means of lugs or the metalbar or flange 25, attached to the back of the lower edge of the friezestrip, as by the screws 26 and projecting over the said lower edge ofthe frieze strip and also over and behind the supporting upper edge ofthe immediately underlying facing unit. At its upper edge the friezestrip is maintained in position, against the flange face of thestudding, by means of a U-clip 21 which is engaged by slipping over theupper edge of the frieze strip and an end of a flange face of thesupporting studding. 'I'his clip may have a slot 28 in the back legthereof, to permit the clips slipping past the bolt 9 which secures theupper end of the studding to a flange of the channel ceiling head plate.

After' the frieze strip is secured in place, the U-clip described may beconcealed from view by attaching a molding clip 29, by means' of a.screw 3B, to the upper portion of the frieze strip and one face of thewall to the other.

over the molding clip 29. Dr, the Uh-clip may be concealed by means of amolding strip 32 which may be attached by the screw 33 to the friezestrip.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 a sealing strip of different patternfrom that described previously is used to close the space or to provideornamentation between the adjacent facing units. Thus, the sealing strip34 may be of wood and may be maintained in position by means of thescrew 35 which passes through a hole in a rearwardly disposed metalplate 36 and into the wood.

Or, the sealing strip may take the form illustrated in Fig. 6, in whicha covering plate 31 extending completely over the joint is attached bymeans of screw 38 to the wood strip 34 above referred to, or the form ofa metal strip with head 39a, illustrated in Fig. 7.

Modifications of the sealing strip which may be readily inserted fromthe front are illustrated in Figs. 8-9. These sealing members mayconsist of resilient metal strips provided with a bead 39 and flexiblelegs 40, suitably with outturned heel's 4Ia, adapted to engagethemselves by spring action behind the units of facing material. v

The modified forms of sealing strips shown in Figs. 5-9 are notpreferred at this time. On the other hand, the T-form. Figs. 1 and 2, ispreferred, in part, because of its strong but resilient locking actionon the edges of the sheets and of other features that will be discussedlater.

It will be noted that the embossed edges of the slots in the clampingstrip may be wedged tightly between the head of the bolt or screw Il,the edge of the flange face of the studding, and back of the facingunit. The clamp may be driven into this wedging position, as by poundingwith a hammer on the lug 4l, at the upper end of the clamping strip.This lug 4I (see Figs. 12 and'l3) may be used also as a means ofengagement of a tool for lifting the strip from the clamping position,that is, for lifting the strip until the fastening elements I l occupiesa position in a leg or side extension of the slot atposition I 6 or thelower end of the slot 42 (Fig. 14), whereby the clamping strip is causedto recede from the flange face of the studding.

A modification of the slot is illustrated in Fig. 14, in which thelength of the slot 42 is at an angle to the length of the clampingstrip, whereby the two ends of the slot are spaced at differentdistances from the edge of the clamping strip which, in the finishedassembly, engages an edge of an I-stud. The slot has the embossed edge43.

In Fig. 15 there is shown a longitudinal section of a hollow partitionconstructed as described and comprising supporting rigid metal studdingand stone-like discrete facing units I0 on both sides of the partition.The facing units define a space between them, which may be filled with amaterial 44 adapted to damp sound vibrations of the facing units, as,for example, with asbestos fibers, mineral wool, or other material whichen masse is non-vibratory and which is suitably incombustible and lightin weight.

In Fig. 16 is shown a similar structure in which the studs 45 are T'sandare not continuous from The filling of vibration damping material,coupled with the fact that independent studs are used for the facingunits of either side of the partition and are unattached to the facingunits of the other side, that is, are in contact with only one face ofthe wall, minimizes the transmission of sound vibraand back or webmember 2% inches wide.

tions through the studding, from one face of the wall to the other.

In the structures shown in Figs. 15 and 16 the filling of vibrationdamping material may be omitted if its effect is not desired.

In Fig. 10 there is illustrated diagrammatically one of the numerouspatterns in which the facing units may be arranged. The figure showsthat vthe units I0 may be arranged with their longerV dimensions eithervertical or horizontal, for example. When the units are very extensivein a longitudinal direction, it isdesirable that they should besupported not only along the vertical edges, as illustrated in Fig. 2,but also at intermediate positions, as illustrated in Fig. 1l.

The channels are suitably constructed of 16- gage cold rolled steel,with flanges one inch wide The studs may consist each of two 11A; inchby 3 inch, 20-gage channel irons bolted together at their backs, to formlight but rigid I-beams.

The base boards may be of the same material as the facing units, as, forexample, asbestos and cement board, and may be applied in a usualmanner, as by screws. Or the base boards may be the metal structuredescribed.

The method of assembling a wall or partition from the parts describedshould be evident from the description that has been given. However, thefollowing additional statements describing an optional method may be ofinterest.

The various parts may be preformed and provided with the necessary holesand other features or accessories, before the assembly is begun. 'Ihestuds are first laidon the iioor and attached, at what is to be theupper end in the finished assembly, to the channel ceiling head plateand, at the other end, to the channel sill. The assembly is then erectedand the channel sill is bolted, screwed, or otherwise attached to thefloor at the place which is to be the base of the partition. The endstudding of the assembly are then plumbed and the channel ceiling headplate bolted or otherwise attached in conventional manner to the ceilingabove. Next, the facing units are equipped with the fastening elementsor bolts I I and the clamping strips. The first facing unit applied maywell be at a lower corner of the partition. When this unit has beenclamped against the studs, sealing members may be applied to itstwo-exposed edges, and additional facing units installed, beginningeither at one side or abovethe first unit. When the units have beenerected to within a few inches, suitably 6 inches, of the ceiling, thenthe frieze strip is inserted, with the flange or lugs along the loweredge of the unit engaged behind the top edge of the immediatelyunderlying unit of facing material and with the U-clip, which has beendescribed, slipped over the top edge of the frieze strip and also overthe upper end of the flange face of the studding. Since the fiange faceof the studding has its edges turned back or crimped, there is left asmall slit or narrow space between the back of the fiat portion of theflange face of the studding and the channel ceiling head plate, when theflange face of the studding is outside the flanges of the channel, asillustrated in Fig. 3. In this slot the back leg of the U-shaped clipmay be enegaged with danger of slipping to one side of the face of thestudding eliminated. The molding and the base board may then beinstalled in conventional manner. It will be understood that theclamping strips on any facing unit are pushed for driven into clampingposition before the next overlying unit is inserted in the wall. Theclamping strip may be manipulated by hand, if necessary, to bring thevarious slots of the clamping strip into position for moving the stripinto the clamping position.

At the junction of a dividing partition wall with another wall 41, Fig.15, or with another partition or at the end of a partition, a channeliron 48, similar to the ceiling and floor channel plates, may beerected; the flanges thereof are turned towards the partition and insidethe flange faces of the last studding, to which flange faces the flangesof the channel plate are secured, as by screws. Or, the channel may takethe place of the last studding, in which case the clamping strip on theadjacent facing units engage the edges of the flanges of the channel, asillustrated in Fig. 15.

The facing units are preformed and may be also prenished, as bypainting, veneering, or, in some cases, papering, before the wall isassembled. In installing the clamping strips on the inside face or backof the facing units, clamping strips are laid on the top of the facingunits, and the stems of large head machine bolts or screws are insertedthrough the preformed slots in the clamping strips and then screwedfirmly into preformed holes in the facing material until the flange orshoulder on the stem of the machine bolt rests against the inside faceof the facing unit. The thus equipped facing units are next placeagainst the metal studs, lined into their predetermined positions, eachrow of clamping strips is raised from its resting or release position onthe machine bolts or screws and shifted so that the flange of theclamping strip rests upon an inside face of a flange or a metal stud.Then the clamping strip is pushed or driven down until the desiredtension between the head of the machine screw or bolt and the embossedslot is obtained.

When the clamping strip is released, as by being pulled upward, the factthat the lower end ofthe slot is nearer the engaging edge of theclamping strip than is the other endof the slot causes the clampingstrip to recede from the edge of the studding. Also, during thisreleasing of the clamping strip, the shoulder I lb on the stem of thefastening element, such as the machine screw above referred to, coactswith the sloping edge of the slot and causes the clamping strip torecede from the facing unit, whereby loosening of the clamp isfacilitated.

To disassemble a partition or wall constructed as described, it is onlynecessary to remove the moulding, as with a screw driver, raise theU-clip above the edge of the frieze strip, and then lift frieze stripout of position. Once this is done, the concealed clamping strip becomesaccessible and the` remainder of the partition may be disassembled. Thethus obtained parts are not injured by having been assembled anddisassembled and are available for use, as in a different location wheresuch an assembly may be desired.

When it is desired to have one side of the wall assembly so constructedthat the wall cannot be taken down or unlocked from that side, as isthe-case when the assembly is a partition between an oiiice and a moreor less public hallway, the U-clip which engages the upper edge of thefrieze strip in the structure described may be supplemented, in one sideof the assembly, by a lug 41 extending behind the loweredge of a flangeof the ceiling head plate and attached to the upper part of the friezestrip or unit, as by'the screw 48 (Fig. 1) which is accessible only fromthe other side of the assembly. In such a case, disassembly of thestructure is possible only when undertaken initially, that is, begun,from the side in which the U-clip has not been substituted as described.

The facing units may consist of any of a large number of materials. Thecomposition which is preferred at this time is an asbestos wallboard,made by mixing asbestos fibers with Portland cement and water, shapingthe mixture into boards or panels, compressing the shaped articles, andallowing them to set. Such a; product in 1/2 inch thickness weighs about5 pounds per square foot. Other compositions may be used. Such othercompositions are preferably heavy and stone-like. Other materials thatmay be used are glass plates, sheet metal, preferably sufficiently thickto be rigid and heavy, enameled sheet metal, metal encased boards,mirrors set in panels, pre-formed cement composition boards, and thelike.'

It is evident that the facing units may be of various sizes. Forinstance, if the studs are on 24 inch centers and the room is 11 feet 6inches high, a single facing unit approximately 24 inches wide by 11feet long may be erected verticallyto leave a 6 inch opening between thetop of the facing unit and the ceiling. In this case the clamping stripmay run the full length of the facing unit, with slots spaced throughoutthe length of the clamping strip, each slot engaging the inside face ofthe head of a machine screw or bolt. The fact that the clamping strip isresilient and at the same time resistant to permanent bending ordistortion makes it possible to hold the facing unit firmly along theface of the studding, along substantially the entire edge of the facingunit.

Wall structures made in accordance with this invention have a number ofimportant features.

Such a wall, and I use the word wall to include partition, has desirableacoustical properties. The heavy units of stone-like material, such asthe asbestos and cement facing units, are not readily set in vibrationby sound waves. The units may be imperforate, that is, have noperforations in connection with the means for securing the units to thesubstructure.

The sealing member or expansion joint between the various units allowsfor expansion or contraction of the units, without leaving undesirablelarge spaces for the passage of air or causing cracking, as would be thecase if thev joints were sealed with plaster. In addition, this memberconceals any irregularity of edges of the panels and makes possible thedecorative treatment of the joints. Further, the sealing members,particularly the T-shapes, being one-piece, from front to back, beinglocked between the edges of adjacent facing units, and havingenlargements or widened portions fitting snugly in front and also behindthe facing units, serves also to keep the units in alignment and thestructure more stable than it would be otherwise. Such a member is to bedistinguished from a compound clip of little holding power in which. aforward portion may be yieldably engaged in a rear portion.

Another important feature of the invention, in a preferred embodimentthereof, is the fact that the sealing member, while closing the joint,does not unite the various facing units into a, whole that may vibrateas an integral diaphragm. In

the nished wall the facing units remain unattached to and out of contactwith each other, that is discrete, in distinction to the condition whichprevails when the panels abut or contact with each other or when thecracks in a wall assembly are closed by a cementitious material whichattaches itself to the edges of the facing units and makes a more orless integral wall facing, adapted to vibrate a's a whole.

The advantage of having all fastening means rearwardly disposed withrespect to the facing units and concealed from View should be evidentfrom the standpoint of appearance of the finished structure. Thefastening or securing means have 'other advantages in addition to beingconcealed. The sloping edges of the slots make possible a wedging actionto secure the facing units firmly against the edges of the flanges ofthe studs. T'he clamping strips, which are suitably of thin metal,areresistant to shearing stress and bending, as well as resilient,because of their dished or formed cross section, which may approximatethat of a channel iron.

'I'he ease of assembly is an important advantage of the structure. Allparts may be factory fabricated and sized. Actual time study tests haveshown that partitions of this nature may be erected very quickly andtaken down even more quickly, without injury to the parts; Thus, apartition of the class described may be erected at the rate of 30 squarefeet per man/hour.

'I'he space 46 (Fig. 1) in the lower end of the studding permits theready installation of electrical conduits, telephone cables and thelike.

Since the wall is hollow, that is, has a space between the unitsconstituting the two faces of the wall, a filling material may be usedto advantage.l When the filling material used is a light-weight, porousmaterial, such as mineral wool, rock wool, asbestos fibers, ordiatomaceous earth, effective thermal insulating walls are produced.Also, such materials, giving inelastic masses, are effective vibrationdamping materials. Thus, while sound waves striking the wall would belargely defiected initially, because of the diiiiculty of setting invibration the heavy facing units on a rigid support, any vibration setup would be effectively damped or deadened by contact of the faces withthe inelastic filling behind such units. Y

When it is desired to convert the structure containing a fibrous orother filling that is per-- meable to sound waves, into one that isvsound absorbing, this may be done readily, as by substituting all orpart of the facing units described by units perforated at closeintervals, that is, in a manner to admit incident sound. Sufficientsound absorption for many purposes is obtained when the facing units ofthe frieze strip are perforated, as indicated in the unitsl`49' (Fig.2). These may be supplemented by other closely per- Vforated facingunits 50. Such a wall is effective not only in sound absorbing lbut alsothermal insulating, the one filling, such as mineral wool, serving bothto absorb sound and minimize the flow of heat. With a three inch fillingof mineral wool between the two faces of the hollow wall, .Y

there may be made a structure with heat transmission of less than 0.1British thermal unit per square foot per hour per 1 F. temperaturedifference between the hot and cold faces of the wall and with soundabsorption in excess of 80% of that incident upon the perforated units.'I he two-fold utility of the filling makes po'ssible that the wall maybe light in weight, as well as easily assembled from preformed units ordisassembled, in addition to the other desirable features mentioned.

The term imperforate as used herein refers to the absence of holes orother means of access, through the facing units, to the rearly disposedsecuring means.

Since the details given are for the purpose of illustration and notlimitation of the invention, it is intended that the invention should belimited only by the terms of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A wall of minimized tendency to vibrate as a whole comprising asupporting substructure, preformed stone-like facing units supported innon-contacting relationship to each other upon the substructure, andindependent separator members disposed between the edges of adjacentpanels, closing the joint therebetween, and minimizing the transmissionof vibration between adjacent panels.

2. A wall of minimized tendency to vibrate as a whole comprising asupporting substructure, preformed stone-like units supported on eitherside of the substructure, lying in the two faces of the wall, anddefining a space between the said faces, vibration-damping material ofthe type of a fibrous filling disposed within the said lspace and incontact with the panels, and independent separator members disposedbetween the edges of adjacent panels in one of the said faces.

3. A wall comprising preformed stone-like discrete facing units andindependent studs, supporting the facing material on either sidethereof, the studs supporting the units on one face of the wall beingunattached to the facing units of the other side of the wall, wherebythe'transmission of sound vibrations through the wall is minimized.

4. In a building wall comprising preformed facing units, a supportingsubstructure including studs with flanged faces, and securing means formaintainingthe facing units on the substructure, the improvementincluding securing means comprising a fastening element attached to theback of a facing unit and a clamping member provided with a slotslidably engaging the fastening element and having a. portion slideablyengaging an edge of the flanged face of a stud.

5. In a. building wall comprising preformed facing units, a supportingsubstructure including studs with flanged faces, and securing means formaintaining the facing units on the substructure, the improvementincluding securing means comprising a fastening element provided with ahead and with a stem attached to the back of a facing unit and a.clamping member provided with a slot slidably engaging the stern of thefastening element and having a portion engaging an edge of the flangedface of a stud, the said slot having an embossed edge adapted to bewedged tightly behind the head of the said element.

6. In a. building wall comprising preformed facing units, a supportingsubstructure including studs with flanged faces, and securing means formaintaining the facing units on the substructure, the improvementincluding concealed securing means comprising a fastening elementprovided with a head and with a stem attached to the back of a facingunit and a clamping member provided with a slot slidably engaging thestem/ofv the fastening element and having a portion engaging an edge ofthe anged face of a stud, the said slot having an embossed edgeassembled wall including supporting studs with flanged faces, facingunits, and a plurality of pins attached to the back of each of the saidunits, the said clamping member comprising a metal strip, of formedcross section, provided with a pluralityof slots with sloping edgesadapted to engage the said pins and having an edge portion adapted toengage a anged face of a stud, whereby the clamping member is adapted tomaintain the facing unit rmly against the face of the stud alongsubstantially the entire, length of the facing unit.

8. A wall assembly comprising a supporting substructure including studswith flanged faces, preformed facing units, fastening pins provided eachwith a head and a stem attached to the back of a facing unit, andclamping strips provided each with a slot with embossed edges sloped inlongitudinal section and slidably engaging a stem of one of the saidpins, the stems of the fastening pins having each, means disposedadjacent to a facing unit adapted to cause the clamping strip, in beingreleased, to recede from the facing unit.

9. A building wall assembly including a oor plate, a ceiling head plate,upright metal studs engaged at either end by the said plates and havingeach anged faces, preformed facing units, fastening elements securedeach to the back of one of the facing units, and clamping stripsdisposed behind the facing units and engaging each at least one of thesaid fastening elements and also an edge of the flanged face of a stud.

10. A building wall assembly including a oor plate, a ceiling headplate, upright metal studs engaged at either end by the said plates andhaving each a web member and flanged faces, preformed facing units,fastening elements secured each to the back of one of the facing units,clamping strips disposed behind the facing units and engaging each atIeast one of the said fastening elements and also an edge of the angedface of a stud, and a frieze strip removably secured over the uppermostportion of the assembly.

11. In the structure described in the preceding claim, the improvementcomprising a substantially U-shaped clip adapted to be engaged byslipping over the top edge of the frieze strip and the end of a angedface of a stud, whereby the frieze strip is maintained against the faceof the stud and in alignment with the facing units of the lower portionof the wall.

12. In the structure described in claim 10, the improvement comprising ametal lug secured to the lower portion of the back of the frieze stripand projecting behind the upper edge of the immediately underlyingfacing unit, and a substantially U-shaped clip engaged over the top edgeof the frieze strip and the end of a flanged face of a stud, whereby thefrieze strip is maintained against the face of the stud and in alignmentwith the lower facing units.

13. A partition assembly of the class described comprising a supportingsubstructure, facing units, means for maintaining the facing units onthe two sides of the supporting substructure, and a frieze strip or thelike that is removable from a forward position on one side only of thepartition, whereby there is provided a partition that may bedisassembled initially from that one side only.

14. A partition assembly of the class described comprising a supportingsubstructure, facing units, means for maintaining the facing units onthe two sides of the supporting substructure, to form the lower portionof the partition, a frieze strip, fastening means secured at one part tother lower portion of the frieze strip and at another part engagedbehind the face of the said lower portion of the partition, and meansholding the frieze strip at an upper part thereof against the saidsubstructure, the said assembly being adapted to be disassembled only byremoving first the frieze strip, and the frieze strip being removablefrom a forward position on one side only of the said partition.

RAYMOND V. PARSONS.

